Science at the Highest Level, Denver 2002

Description

Established in 1888, The Geological Society of America provides access to elements that are essential to the professional growth of earth scientists at all levels of expertise and from all sectors: academic, government, business, and industry.

The Geological Society of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. James Hall, James D. Dana, and Alexander Winchell founded GSA in New York in 1888. As a descendent of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, GSA is the first enduring society for the geosciences in America. Headquarters offices have been in Boulder, Colorado, since 1968. The management of the Society's affairs is under the control of its elected officers (Executive Committee and Council).

GSA is an expanding global membership society with more than16,000 members in more than 85 countries. Twenty percent of its members are students. The Society's primary activities are organizing scientific meetings and conferences and publishing scientific literature. Other activities include disbursing research grants, operating an employment matching and interview service, honoring outstanding scientific contributors with medals and awards, assisting teachers in geoscience education, and fostering public awareness of geoscience issues.

An individual may join GSA as a Member, Student Member, Student Associate, Teacher Member, or Affiliate. Established GSA members may be nominated and elected to Fellow status. GSA offers reduced membership dues to all Students, Teacher Members, Senior Members, and Senior Fellows. All members receive special benefits such as the monthly newsletter, GSA Today, and reduced rates on GSA publications and meetings. All members except Student Associates and Affiliates have full voting rights.

The Society has published continuously since 1890, when the first issue of the GSA Bulletin appeared. The GSA Bulletin presently includes about 10 papers monthly in the classical, research-paper style. In 1973, the monthly journal Geology was introduced in response to the need for rapid publication of short, topical scientific articles. Today it features about 22 brief papers each month, and has become the most popular journal in the earth sciences. GSA Today, GSA Bulletin, and Geology are also available online and twice a year on the GSA Journals on Compact Disc.

The Society has six regional sections throughout North America. These sections have their own management boards and conduct their own yearly meetings. Affiliation with a section is free for GSA members. The six sections are Cordilleran, Rocky Mountain, North-Central, South-Central, Northeastern, and Southeastern.

Thirteen specialty divisions, which any member may join, generally meet at the Annual Meeting of the Society. Most divisions have their own newsletters, which are published at various times throughout the year.

Twenty-three specialized Associated Societies often meet in conjunction with the GSA Annual Meeting and assist in developing the scientific program, thus ensuring a broad range of topics.